Circular furnace roof and component refractory bricks



A. J. MANN Jan. 25, 1966 CIRCULAR FURNACE ROOF AND COMPONENT REFRACTORY BRICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21 1965 fizz/er: 101 fllf dfiiiann flfiorn 49 5.

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Jan. 25, 1966 A. J. MANN 3,230,914

CIRCULAR FURNACE ROOF AND COMPONENT REFRACTORY BRICKS Filed Oct. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \za 35 f\ g; 48 i i Z? i \J I l i 22 fl iforne s.

A. J. MANN Jan. 25, 1966 CIRCULAR FURNACE ROOF AND COMPONENT REFRACTORY BRICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 In I/Efifon fill-red 1777a n n r MM flfl orn 635.

United States Patent 3,230,914 7 CIRCULAR FURNACE RQOF AND COMPONENT REFRACTORY BRICKS Alfred .3. Mann, Worplesdon, Surrey, England, assignor to M. H. Detrick Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware 7 Filed Oct. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 317,564 3 Claims. (Cl. 110- 9 This invention relates to a circular furnace roof and component refractory bricks, and more particularly to a circular furnace roof using bricks of the individually suspended type.

One object of the invention is to provide a circular furnace roof wherein the framework that supports the bricks is highly eflicient structually and economically, and closely correlated with the support requirements of the individual bricks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circular furnace roof wherein the outer margin of the brick portion of the roof is substantially circular. Thus, little if any plastic refractory material is required between the brick portion and the circular frame that defines the periphery of the roof.

Another object is to provide brick shapes for use in a circular furnace roof that are of minimum variety and yet highly flexible in design capability. They permit the roof to have circular or rectangular openings, or both. The character of the roof and bricks is such that openings of desired shape and size may be located readily where necessary throughout the roof area.

Still another object is to provide a circular furnace roof of the suspended type that easily is installed, and wherein the component bricks are readily accessible for repair or replacement.

Another object is to provide a circular furnace roof wherein the bricks effectively may be held in desired position against-the tendency of the bricks to raise up or buckle in response to forces generated by thermal expansion.

Other objects, advantages and details of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein various details of the invention are shown. It is to be understood that the description and drawings are illustrative only, and that. the scope of the invention is to be measured by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of one of the trapezoidal bricks used in the invention, the outline representing the shape of the brick in horizontal cross section.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the small rectangular bricks used in the invention, the outline representing the shape of the brick in horizontal cross section.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the large rectangular bricks used in the invention, the outline representing the shape of the brick in horizontal cross section.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective View, partly broken away, showing four trapezoidal bricks arranged to form a hexagonal brick cluster.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two small rectangular bricks arranged to form one-half of a rectangular brick cluster.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hanger adapted adapted 'to suspend a cluster of four brick from a support member.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the relationship between the several brick shapes used in the invention and illustrating a random manner in which the bricks may be arranged.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of a furnace roof illustrating the manner in which rows of small rectangular brick are arranged to extend away from a flat side of a hexagonal brick cluster.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which rows of small rectangular brick are arranged to extend away from the apex of a hexagonal brick cluster.

FIG. 10 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a segment of a circular furnace roof embodying the invention, the remaining portion of the roof, except for presence or absence of openings, being duplications of the portions shown.

FIG. 11 is a sectional View on line l111 of FIG. 10.

Referring first to FIGS. 10 and 11, a circular furnace roof constructed in accordance with the invention includes and outer circular frame 15 and an inner circular frame 16. Radial support members 17, such as I-beams, connect outer and inner frames 15 and 16 at intervals of sixty degrees, and in the form of the invention illustrated, optional intermediate radial support members 18 are located midway between members 17.

Referring to the region between outer and inner frames 15 and 16, spaced parallel secondary support members 20 extended between and are carried by adjacent radial support members 17, the secondary support members 20 extending below or through intermediate support members 18 when the latter are used. Secondary support mem bers 20, when positioned between each adjacent pair of sixty-degree radial support members 17, define a plurality of concentric hexagons, as readily understood from FIG. 10.

Inner radial support members 21 radiate from a common junction 22 at the center of the roof and are attached at their outer ends to inner circular frame 16. Members 21, shown at intervals of one hundred twenty degrees, preferably are in alignment with radial support members 17. Spaced parallel inner secondary support members 23 extend between and are carried by each in ner radial support member 21 and inner circular frame 16, the secondary support members 23 preferably being parallel with an adjacent radial support member 21, as shown.

In some instances it is possible to eliminate inner circular frame 16 and extend radial support members 17 to a common junction at the center of the roof. In such case secondary support members 29 are continued to the common junction which may be regarded as an inner cir- 'cular frame.

The bricks next to be described are suspended by means of hangers 25 (FIG. 6) from secondary support members 20 or 20 and 23, as will be seen.

FIGS. l-5 and 7-8 show the various refractory bricks used in the circular roof of the invention, and possible arrangements of same into brick parts and assemblies thereof.

One of the brick parts has hexagonal shape in horizontal cross section, the width of each side being two uni For convenience, the relative dimensions or widths of the sides of each brick part will be referred to in terms of units, rather than finite dimensions. In practice, and by way of example, one unit may equal two inches.

While the hexagonal brick parts used in the invention may be unitary in character, it has been found desirable to form these brick parts by combining four component bricks that individually are trapezoidal in horizontal cross section into a brick cluster. A typical one of such component bricks is shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, component trapezoidal brick 30, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a first brick, has parallel sides 31 and 32. These parallel sides have widths of two units and one unit, respectively. Third side 33, perpendicular to the parallel sides, is the square root of three units in width, whereby fourth side 34, like side 31,

34 is sixty degrees, while the angle between sides 32 and 34 is one hundred twenty degrees.

The upper corner of brick 3t) defined by the intersection of sides 31 and 33 has a quarter-circular recess 35 extending a short distance lengthwise of the brick. An enlarged quarter-circular recess 36 of limited length is formed in brick 30 immediately below recess 35. The two recesses 35 and .36, as will be seen, receive a portion of hanger 25 (FIG. 6) that supports a cluster of four brick from a secondary support member 20 or 23.

Each hexagonal brick cluster, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7-9, includes two component trapezoidal first bricks 30 and two component trapezoidal second bricks 38, the latter being shaped in mirror image of first bricks 30.

The corresponding sides of second bricks 38 have the same widths as those of first bricks 30, and the bricks have recesses 35 and 36 to receive portions of a hanger 25.

FIG. 4 shows a hexagonal brick cluster comprising two component trapezoidal first bricks 30 and two component trapezoidal second bricks 38, the recesses 35 and 36 thereof combining to form circular spaces in the cluster that receive and embrace the lower portion of a hanger 25 (FIG. 6). It will be noted that each fiat side of the hexagonal brick cluster has a width of two units.

One of the'small rectangular bricks 40 used in the invention is shown in FIG. 2. This brick sometimes is referred to herein as the third brick used in the invention. Sides 41 and 42 of third brick 40 have a Width of one and one-half units, while sides 43 and 44 have a width of the square root of three units.

The upper corner defined by the intersection of sides 41 and 43 of small rectangular brick 40 has a quartercircular recess 45 of limited length, below which there is an enlarged recess 46, also of limited length. Recesses '45 and 46, as in the case of recesses 35 and 36, cooperate to receive a portion of hanger 25 to thereby suspend brick 40 from a secondary support member 20 or 23.

Brick 40, like brick 30, often is used as one of a rectangular cluster of four generally similar bricks supported by a single hanger 25. As best shown in FIGS. and 7-9, each cluster of four small rectangular bricks includes two bricks 40 and two bricks 48, the latter being shaped in mirror image of bricks 40. For convenience, brick 48 sometimes is referred to as the fourth brick used in the invention.

The rectangular clusters of rectangular bricks 40 and 48, as will be seen, are adapted to align in rows that lead awayfrom either a flat side or an apex of one of the hexagonal brick clusters. The rectangular brick clusters fill in the roof area between radial rows of hexagonal brick clusters, the latter being spaced angularly at sixty degrees beneath radial support members 17.

A fifth or large rectangular brick 50 used in the invention is shown in FIG. 3. Sides 51 and 52 of brick 50 are .two units in width, while sides 53 and 54 are the square root of three units in width. The upper corner of brick '50 defined by the intersection of sides 51 and 53 has a quarter-circular recess 55 of limited length, and immediately below an enlarged quarter-circular recess 56, also of limited length. The two recesses 55 and 56 are adapted to receive portions of a hanger25.

Fifth brick 50 has a companion sixth brick 58 (lower right in FIG. 7) that is shaped in mirror image of brick 50. As will be seen, bricks 50 and 58 are used in pairs, rather than clusters of four, but the two shapes are necessary to insure proper relationship between a brick 50 or FIGS. 8 and 9. further illustrate the flexibility of design aiforded by the bricks of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, rows of small rectangular bricks 40 and 48 are shown leading away from a fiat side 34 of a hexagonal brick cluster 60 made up of two first brick 30 and two second brick 38. It will be noted that two second bricks 38 are used in transition between hexagonal cluster 60 and the rows of rectangular bricks 40 and 48.

FIG. 9 shows rows of small rectangular brick 40 and 48 leading away from apex 65 of a hexagonal brick cluster 70. It will be noted that one trapezoidal brick 30 and one trapezoidal brick 38 are used in transition between hexagonal brick cluster and the rows of rectangular bricks 40 and .48.

FIGS. 8 and 9 also illustrate the uniformity of spacing that exists between the circular recesses that receive hangers 25. This space is uniform, regardless of Whether the rows of rectangular brick extend away from the flat side or an apex of a hexagonal cluster. This characteristic cooperates to enable the use of the geometrically regular secondary supporting members 20 and 23 shown in FIG. 10.

Referring further to FIG. 10, it will be understood that the various brick shapes of the invention afford flexibility in utilizing the bricks in a circular roof. This flexibility permits latitude in the location, size and shape of roof openings.

Circular roofs often are used with electric furnaces, and one or more openings of predetermined location,

size and shape normally are provided in such roofs to accommodate electrodes.

Referring to the central portion of the roof shown in FIG. 10, it will be noted that this region, as illustrated, consists mainly of hexagonal clusters. The omission of one such cluster provides a substantially circular opening of comparatively small size, and such opening may be positioned, within reasonable limits, at any desired location.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the illustrated central portion of the roof is provided with a substantially circular opening of comparatively large size. Opening 80 is formed by omitting a number of hexagonal clusters and employing some of the large rectangular bricks 50 and 58. As will be noted, bricks 50 and 58 are used in spaced pairs in association with intermediate pairs of trapezoidal bricks30 and 38 to define a twelve-sided or dodecagonal opening which is sufficiently circular to accommodate a circular electrode properly. If a closer fit is required, an annular seal (not shown) may be provided between the circular electrode and the margin of the dodecagonal I opening.

Rectangular openings, such as opening in FIG. 10, of suitable size, shape and location also may be provided readily in portions of the roof formed of rectangular brick 1 Any tendency of the bricks to raise up or bucklefrom forces-due to thermal expansion may be resisted by members (FIG. 11) disposed between radial support members 17 and 18 and the tops of the bricks. Wedges 91 or the like may be used to apply down pressure on the tops of the bricks. a

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A circular furnace roof comprising:

an outer circular frame;

an inner circular fame;

radial support members connecting said outer and inner frames at intervals of sixty degrees;

secondary support members carried by said radial support members and arrange to define a plurality of concentric hexagons; and

refractory bricks suspended from said secondary support members, said refractory bricks including a radial row of hexagonal brick parts beneath each radial support member and rows of rectangular brick filling the space between said radial rows.

2. A circular furnace roof comprising:

an outer circular frame;

an inner circular frame;

radial support members connecting said outer and inner frames at intervals of sixty degrees;

secondary support members carried by said radial support members and arranged to define a plurality of concentric hexagons; and

refractory bricks suspended from said secondary support members, said refractory bricks including a radial row of hexagonal brick parts beneath each radial support member;

each hexagonal brick part a cluster of four bricks trapezoidal in horizontal cross section;

the parallel sides of each trapezoidal brick respectively one unit and two units in width, a third side the square root of three units in width and perpendicular to said parallel sides, whereby the fourth side has a 5 width of two units;

two of said four trapezoidal bricks having the same shape, the other two shaped in mirror image of said first two; and

rows of rectangular brick filling the space between said 10 radial rows.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the unequal sides of said rectangular bricks have widths of one and one-half units and the square root of three units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 928,321 7/1909 Moore 50456 2,163,435 6/1939 Pollen 11099 2,742,023 4/ 1956 Reintjes 110-99 X 2,814,476 11/1957 Leitner 263-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,155,161 11/1957 France.

250,763 7/ 1948 Switzerland.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, IR., Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Examiner. 

1. A CIRCULAR FURNACE ROOF COMPRISING: AN OUTER CIRCULAR FRAME; AN INNER CIRCULAR FRAME; RADIAL SUPPORT MEMBERS CONNECTED SAID OUTER AND INNER FRAMES AT INTERVALS OF SIXTY DEGREES; SECONDARY SUPPORT MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID RADIAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AND ARRANGE TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC HEXAGONS; AND 